Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen | Die Walküre: Act I-II (MET 1990)

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Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), WWV 86B, is the second of the four music dramas that constitute Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, (English: The Ring of the Nibelung). It was performed, as a single opera, at the National Theatre Munich on 26 June 1870, and received its first performance as part of the Ring cycle at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus on 14 August 1876. Die Walküre's best-known excerpt is the "Ride of the Valkyries".

Die Walküre Synopsis: https://www.opera-arias.com/wagner/die-walk%C3%BCre/synopsis/
Act I - The interior of Hunding's dwelling
Act II - A wild rocky pass

Prior history: During the lengthy time that has passed since the gods entered Valhalla at the end of Das Rheingold, Fafner has used the Tarnhelm to assume the form of a dragon, and guards the gold and the ring in the depths of the forest. Wotan has visited Erda seeking wisdom, and by her has fathered a daughter, Brünnhilde; he has fathered eight other daughters, possibly also by Erda. These, with Brünnhilde, are the Valkyries, whose task is to recover heroes fallen in battle and bring them to Valhalla, where they will protect the fortress from Alberich's assault should the dwarf recover the ring. Wotan has also wandered the earth, and with a woman of the Völsung race has fathered the twins Siegmund and Sieglinde, who have grown up separately and unaware of each other. From the Völsungs Wotan hopes for a hero who, unencumbered by the gods' treaties, will obtain the ring from Fafner.

Cast & Characters:
Siegmund - Gary Lakes
Sieglinde - Jessye Norman
Wotan - James Morris
Brünnhilde - Hildegard Behrens
Hunding - Kurt Moll
Fricka - Christa Ludwig
Gerhilde - Pyramid Sellers
Ortlinde - Martha Thigpen
Waltraute - Joyce Castle
Schwertleite - Sondra Kelly
Helmwige - Katarina Ikonomu
Siegrune - Diane Kesling
Grimgerde - Wendy Hillhouse
Rossweisse - Jacalyn Bower

Act III: https://rumble.com/v4b01lr-richard-wagners-der-ring-des-nibelungen-die-walkre-act-iii-met-1990.html

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